Welcome to the first installment of our 7-part series exploring the tell-tale signs that your website might be due for a redesign.
Your website often serves as the very first impression potential customers have of your business. Think of it as your digital storefront or your online handshake. If that storefront looks like it hasn’t been updated since the early 2000s, what message does that send?
A website designed even five years ago can start to feel dated compared to the sleek, intuitive, and visually engaging sites users interact with daily. An outdated “look and feel” isn’t just about appearances; it directly impacts user trust, engagement, and ultimately, your bottom line.
So, how can you tell if your website’s style is stuck in the past? Here are a few key indicators:
1. It Just Looks Old:
This is subjective, but often intuitive. Does your site rely heavily on design elements that were popular years ago?
Older sites often display elements such as cheesy stock imagery, low-resolution graphics, or even employee photos of team members who are no longer part of the company. These sites can also often focus too heavily on content needing to be “above the fold,” which can lead to poor visual hierarchy and a very overwhelming experience.
More modern designs nowadays utilize good spacing between sections and content in order to guide a user down the page and really let their imagery and subtle animations shine.
2. Poor User Experience (UX):
It’s a major red flag these days if your website is “non-responsive,” which means it does not automatically resize to best display the page’s content for multiple desktop sizes and phones. This, paired with confusing menu navigation, can lead to a frustrating user experience. Your website should be as easy to view and use as possible on multiple devices and even utilize modern design principles that incorporate accessibility, ensuring even users with disabilities can find their way on your site. Many older sites often fall short on accessibility and have a clear and simple navigation.
3. Brand Misalignment:
4. Competitor Comparison:
How does your site stack up visually and functionally with your competitors’ websites? If your site looks noticeably older or less professional than the competition, you’re likely losing credibility and potential customers before you even get a chance to showcase your value.
Why Does an Outdated Look Matter?
An outdated website can inadvertently signal that your business is stagnant, out of touch, or doesn’t care about its online presence and professionalism. This negatively impacts trust with users and may make them question whether your information is current or even if your business is still active.
Take a moment to visit your site and give it an honest review as if you were a first-time visitor. When you’ve finished looking it over, visit a competitor’s website and see how the experiences compare. If you feel your website experience and design are starting to fall behind, then it might be time for a redesign.
Start the conversation with us here at Enthusiast to help your website and business thrive, and stay tuned for Part 2 in this series, where we’ll dive into other signs that it may be time for a fresh start for your website.
